CREDITON Freemasons hosted a White Table Evening at Unity Lodge in Union Road, Crediton on Thursday, March 16.

Visitors were booked in and received by front-of-house helpers, and included the mother of one young member and the wife of another.

All was delivered in a relaxed but informative way by the Director of Ceremonies, Worshipful Brother Philip Hutchens.

After a welcoming drink at the bar, Worshipful Master, for this year, W Bro’ Mark Vaughan, welcomed all in the lodge room upstairs, where the Officers of the Lodge, including “Mentor” W Bro’ Peter Howison, wearing their badges of office and in their respective places, explained their roles which have remained unchanged for 153 years.  

The Director of Ceremonies, explained that Freemasonry is not a religious organisation, that discussion of politics and religion is banned, members of all faiths and creeds have always been welcomed, and that there is a copy of the Hindu equivalent of the Bible in the Lodge, for a Hindu member and others that visit from other Lodges.

W Bros’ Colin Wroth and Peter Heal, followed this with a fascinating explanation of the history of Freemasonry generally, and the history of Crediton Freemasonry from the first recorded Crediton Lodge, founded in 1755, which met at Meadways Wine Vaults, through to the founding of Unity Lodge in 1870.

The present building, purpose built in 1890, and still very much fit for purpose, has been in continuous use since, except when it was requisitioned by the Army in WWII, and suffered bomb damage from the Luftwaffe.

Brother Lee Fallows then gave a talk on Notable Freemasons, including Sir Alexander Fleming, Sir Winston Churchill, President Franklin D Roosevelt, and many others, including King George VI, Rudyard Kipling, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Alf Ramsey, Peter Sellers and many others past and present.

A live, question time followed, which revealed that, although it is something of a mystery before that, Freemasonry is known to have been in existence, long before the 1717 formation in London of United Grand Lodge of England, there have been separate Ladies Lodges, for 200 years of that 305 years.

Charity Steward and Lodge Secretary, W Bro’ Peter Coleman, explained the workings of the charity, which is the foundation of Freemasonry, with large sums coming from London to support national organisations, including a range of medical research and the RNLI, plus giving immediate relief, often the first in line, for world disasters, such as the recent Earthquakes in Turkey.

Peter also explained that while the Freemasons send money to London, they frequently get more back in return, towards charity work within Devon in general and the local community, where local organisations like Guides, Scouts, nurseries and the youth rugby and football clubs etc are encouraged to apply.

This always comes from members donations, with no collections from the public.

W Bro’ Philip Bourne, membership and WAKE fund officer, gave an outline of the WAKE fund.

This was explained as unique to Devon, from legacy of past Provincial Grand Master W A Kneel, (remember Kneel’s Laundry), where before he passed away, he devoted his self-made fortune into a trust fund for distributing help and relief twice a year from the interest.

Many successful applications benefiting local voluntary organisations have been made over the years all well-covered, with thanks from the Freemasons, by the “Crediton Courier”.

All then adjourned downstairs to a “festive board” of a superb buffet supper, kindly laid on by Dan, Sandy and the crew from The Three Little Pigs.

This was a light and informative evening for all, and one of the lady visitors, wife of a new member, has kindly written in to say, “Thank you all for being open and sharing so much, and, what struck me most, was openness and kindness from this group, with real charitable giving, and care and commitment to the community”.

The Freemasons thank all those who
assisted. They will now move forward with informing and bringing in the new candidates that this event has introduced and leave with the thought - “To be one, ask one”.

Any voluntary organisations seeking assistance should write to: The Charity Steward, Unity Lodge, Union Road, Crediton, EX17 3AW.

Philip Bourne